Afghanistan

Local sources in Baghlan Province have confirmed that on Tuesday evening, January 7, two religious scholars were attacked while leaving a mosque on their way to a gathering. In the attack, Abdul Razaq was killed, and Hamdullah, the central Baghlan district’s imam, sustained severe injuries.

The Indian government has condemned Pakistan’s recent airstrike on Afghan territory. In a statement issued by the Ministry of External Affairs two weeks after the attack, India criticized Pakistan for deflecting attention from its internal weaknesses by blaming neighboring countries.

Russia has expressed concern over escalating tensions along the Pakistan-Afghanistan border, urging both sides to resolve their differences through dialogue. Maria Zakharova, spokesperson for the Russian Ministry of Foreign Affairs, stated: The clashes in this region are claiming the lives of not only military personnel but also civilians.

Sirajuddin Haqqani, the Taliban’s Interior Minister, has strongly condemned Pakistan’s recent actions, describing them as a violation of all international norms. He stated that Pakistan decided to attack Afghanistan despite the Taliban’s continuous efforts since 2021 to ensure that Afghan soil is not used against any other country.

Zalmay Khalilzad, the former U.S. Special Representative for Afghanistan, recently clarified that the Doha Agreement was a framework for the withdrawal of U.S. forces from Afghanistan but did not define the future political system of the country.

Shehbaz Sharif, the Prime Minister of Pakistan, has declared that the activities of Tehrik-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) from Afghan soil are unacceptable. He urged the Taliban to adopt a firm policy against the group.

Former Afghan President Ashraf Ghani strongly condemned Pakistan’s recent airstrikes on Bermal district in Paktika province, describing them as a continuation of colonial and divisive policies.

Media organizations and activists have strongly condemned the Taliban’s move to convert Afghanistan’s national television into a radio station, viewing it as part of a broader strategy to suppress free expression and erase cultural diversity in the country.

Amrullah Saleh, the former vice president of Afghanistan under President Ashraf Ghani, criticized the Taliban in response to Pakistan’s airstrikes on Afghan soil. He accused the Taliban of shattering the unity of the Afghan people under the banners of “Emirate” and “Republic.”

The airstrikes carried out by Pakistani fighter jets on Tuesday night in Barmal district of Paktika province have provoked a strong response from the Taliban. The Taliban’s Ministry of Defense has called the attack a “blatant violation of Afghanistan’s territorial integrity” and warned that such actions “will not go unanswered.”